It seems like so many knit bloggers these days are turning their thoughts to Fall, with visions of pumpkins, sweaters and delicious ales, and I was starting to feel a tad bit jealous. It’s still been pretty darn warm here in New Mexico, but I think that tide is beginning to change. Although it’s not fully here, there are small signs of Fall here and there, if you know what to look for. Subtle hints such as the return of the comforter to the bed, a nippy morning ride to work, and the beginning of the State Fair are making me dizzy with anticipation. So Fall? Hurry up, cause I’m ready. Case in point:
Progress is now cruising along on my Seamles Hybrid, as I’m about halfway to working the yoke. Even though it’s a forest of stockinette, I’ve added a bit of spice with some green stripes (I was so struck by the hem that I just had to include the green in the body). Also, in a fit of bravado, I decided that this was the project that I was going to use to hunker down and learn continental knitting. (That’s holding the yarn in your left hand for my non-knitting friends.) It was a bit of a gutsy move, especially considering the problems I’ve already had with gauge on this sweater, but it seems to have paid off. It was a lot easier to learn than I thought (although I did have some practice with the We Call Them Pirates Hat a month or so ago), and my gauge is the same. And the main reason for this move? Well, let’s just say I’m a crazy speed demon now. Sometimes I come close to doubling my English Knitting speed, which makes for a quick sweater.
Here’s another sign of Fall that I received today. Although soap is a good thing to use year round, this stuff makes me long for the days of cold tile floors and hot showers. I acquired it through the witty and talented Megan, in a soap and yarn swap. It’s pretty much a win-win: Megan gets some cool Yarn Nerd yarn (which she made into an amazing sock), and I get to smell amazing and be squeaky clean. Pretty good deal if you ask me. So thanks Megan, you’ve made this Nerd very happy!
Now you’ll have to excuse me, I’m going to go take a hot shower before bedtime. ;)
I’m a right-hand thrower, but a pretty fast one. I do this hybrid thingie that really works for me. I do want to learn to knit continental. The achiles heel of my knitting is that I get gaps much larger than my liking on any ribing that’s “wider” than K2P2. sigh Someday!
All hail continental knitting!
Just kidding, whatever works. Fastest knitter in the world knits English, after all.
Getting ready for that two-handed color work are ya :) The sweater looks lovely. I totally love the colored hem thing going on - I can see why you were inspired to add the stripes of green.
What a great swap! Soap is one of my must get items at Rhinebeck every year.
That’s great that you taught yourself to knit Continental! I’ve tried so many times, but I’m pretty fast as a thrower, so I’ve decided to just stick with English knitting. I like the addition of the stripes to your Seamless Hybrid. The colors work well together. I can send you some cold autumn weather, if you want, because I’ve got plenty :)
Love the sweater, it looks great. Great achievement re the continental knitting. I keep trying and giving up. The purl stitches are so slow and forget lace knitting. Maybe a sweater in the round like you. Also, didn’t comment the other day, what is the secret to dyeing so much in one night? I never manage to do more than a skein or two. All that dyeing was a grat achievement too!
fall will come - then winter! ick! that sweater is looking great - what a perfect way to learn continental! her soaps are great - enjoy them!
I switched over to continental a little over a year ago. I felt like I was relearning for a couple of weeks but I am SO happy that I stuck with it. I can knit for longer periods of time with out my hands hurting. You are working on the perfect project to become comfortable with it - ss in the round. I learned with the Sophia bag. A lot of stitches in the round and then I felted it to hide any imperfections. :) I LOVE the colors of your sweater. What yarn are you using? Btw - my grandmother in Los Alamos told me yesterday that fall is coming - it is getting cold up there. It will soon follow in ABQ. :)
great post–some of my same thoughts. the weather is started to get colder here (Ontario, Canada)–i’m wearing my handspun handknit socks today. i love hand made soap i need to pick up my wool sweater and get back to it i want to learn continental knitting
nice soap haul!!!
I love knitting continental! So fast… My purling continental, on the other hand… I’ve tried an assortment of techniques and it’s just not speedy.
Those colors make me want to take a drive through the shenendoahs…gorgeous.
I switched to continental knitting a year after I learned to knit… I’d never go back. Purling..though..still throwing in way… I need to get better at that. :) hope you like!
I can’t wait for fall.
Nooooo! Don’t tell me you switched to continental and are happy about it! I’m too lazy to do the same, so I’ll just plod on with the pokey method and resent your lightning ninja speed. ;)
Also, isn’t Megan’s soap heavenly? Love it.
Dude, You were already the fastest knitter in town…I can’t imagine that you can now go even faster!! There must be sparks flying from those knitting needles. Way to go!
Oh those colors are lovely. Is they yarn your own?
Ah Fall! It’s in the 50s and blustery today. The sugar maples in the front yard are showing colors and the pumpkins in the garden have achieved yellow. Perfect for knitterly activities.
LOVING that SH!! Go, Adam, go!
Not fall here yet, but maybe soon. And I’m happy for you that you learned Continental…but that happiness is seriously tinged with jealousy, since I’ve tried multiple times and failed every one of them! I can’t wait to see the sweater finished…the colors are gorgeous.
Me? I’m so ready for winter. Fall is usually the hottest couple of months of the year in Hawaii. The temperatures stick around the 90F mark and the humidity climbs up.
Your SH is lovely. Such great colors!
that’s what i should do . . make a simple sweater and do it in continental! i could practice up on my rusty continental skills and finally get a new sweater. something really quick and fast from handspun that i can bum around in all winter would be great, right . . maybe a seamless hybrid!
The green sends it into overdrive, it looks great! Enjoy your little slice of soapy heaven…
amazing colors in that sweater - I have been wanting to try the “other” way of knitting too; I’m a thrower myself… but haven’t been up to sticking with it for more than a few stitches…
have fun with the soap too - I am a huge fan of handmade soaps - looks like you struck gold!
:)
Kyle
Gosh Adam, the more I see your hybrid, the more I want one too - in those exact colors. So rich, so gorgeous, so fall!
I love the colors on your SH. I knit continental too. I was sort of forced into it years ago by a Swiss friend who insisted that I just COULDN’T knit any other way! So much for the “knitting police!” But I’m glad she got me into it. It’s so much faster. And comfortable for me too. Enjoy your new skill!
Have you figured out the purl part of Continental? I’m trying to be a picker, too (mostly cause I needed a new challenge), but the purl part of it is kicking my a$$. I feel spastic and uncoordinated, and everything else when I try to purl. Would love to know how you conquer that part of it.
Adam, that sweater is going to be gorgeous. I love that red and that green, and also that you thought to show them off together in some stripes! You’re making me think I really need to get on the continental horse again. I only use my left hand for colorwork, but if it’s really as fast as people say, it might be worth turning away from the method of my ancestors in favor of a little more speed. More speed = more projects, right? If only I didn’t find purling so awkward with the left hand - no wonder EZ went to such lengths to avoid it. ;)
I love that you are throwing in random green stripes. The color combo is awesome. Are those addi turbos or knitpicks options?
PS: Welcome to the dark side of continental knitting! You should be a super speed demon with fair isle now.
Fabulous color combination!
OK, I have to know…Do you find Continental to be faster? Or does it depend on the knitter? I’ve been toying with learning English style, it can’t hurt, no? The sweater looks great!
That is encouraging. I am just starting my first seemless EZ sweater. I am a thrower, but fairly new to knitting. I really want to learn continental but don’t want to ’slow’ down to learn. I have been thinking about trying it on all of the knitting on this sweater. So many I too will cross over to continental. It sounds like it was no problem for you. Do you think you will stick with continental or do you miss english style?